A method for automatically storing information on the date of the first use of an electronic device after purchase for verifying the warranty period of the electronic device. When an electronic device is used for the first time after purchase, the date information necessary for verifying the warranty period is automatically stored, thereby settling disputes concerning warranty periods. Also, the cost for repairing products for which the warranty period has already elapsed can be greatly reduced.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for storing service information for an electronic device, said device having a controller and a memory, and being operative to receive an input signal containing data representing a present date, comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether a predetermined command is input to the controller of the electronic device; (b) if it is determined in step (a) that the predetermined command is input, separating the data representing a present date from the received input signal; (c) determining whether initial data is present in a date data area of said memory for storing date data; and (d) only if it is determined in step (c) that the initial data is present, storing the data representing a present date in the date data area.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined command is a power-on command.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of storing the data in a memory comprises storing the data in a nonvolatile flash memory by which the data stored therein is not lost even if power supply is interrupted.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of: decoding and displaying the date data stored in the memory, if a predetermined command for displaying the date data is input.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising preventing the date data, indicating the first use date of the electronic device and being stored in the memory, from being changed.
6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, permitting a change in the date data stored in the memory if a predetermined password is input.
7. A method for storing service information for an electronic device, said device having a controller and a memory, and being operative to receive an input signal containing data representing a present date, comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether a predetermined command is input to the controller of the electronic device; (b) if it is determined in step (a) that the predetermined command is input, determining whether initial data is present in an date data area of said memory for storing date data; and (c) only if it is determined in step (b) that the initial data is present, storing the data representing a present date in the date data area.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the predetermined command is a power-on command.
9. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising preventing the date data, indicating the first use date of the electronic device and being stored in the memory, from being changed.
10. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising, permitting a change in the date data stored in the memory if a predetermined password is input.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 14, 1999
October 21, 2003
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